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Bai Shao
Paeoniae Radix Alba
Plant Source
It is the root of the plant Paeonia lactiflora Pall. from the family Paeoniaceae.
Alias
White Peony, Golden Peony.
Functions
Nourishes blood, astringes yin, softens the liver, alleviates pain, and pacifies liver yang.
Geographical Distribution
Grows in grassy slopes and under forests.
Mainly produced in Zhejiang, Anhui, Sichuan, etc.
Distributed in Northeast, North China, Shaanxi, and Gansu. Cultivated in many cities and towns.
Characteristics of the Medicinal Slice
1. Bai Shao: This product appears as round thin slices. The surface is light brownish-red or whitish, smooth. The cross-section is whitish or slightly brownish-red, with distinct layer rings and slightly raised vein patterns arranged radially. It has a faint aroma and a slightly bitter, sour taste.2. Fried Bai Shao: This product resembles Bai Shao slices, with a slightly yellow or light brownish-yellow surface, some may show scorched spots. It has a faint fragrance.3. Wine Bai Shao: This product resembles Bai Shao slices, with a slightly yellow or light brownish-yellow surface, some may show scorched spots. It has a slight wine aroma.
Taste and Meridian Affinity
Taste: Bitter, sour; Nature: Slightly cold; Meridians: Liver, Spleen
Characteristics and Indications
Indicated for liver blood deficiency, irregular menstruation, disharmony between liver and spleen, pain in the chest, hypochondrium, and abdomen, limb spasms and pain, liver yang rising, headache, dizziness, etc. 1. Liver blood deficiency, irregular menstruation: This product has a sour taste, astringes liver yin to nourish blood, often used with Shu Di (Rehmannia), Dang Gui (Angelica), etc., to treat liver blood deficiency, pale complexion, dizziness, palpitations, or irregular menstruation, and excessive bleeding.2. Disharmony between liver and spleen, pain in the chest, hypochondrium, and abdomen, limb spasms and pain: This product astringes liver yin, nourishes blood, softens the liver, and alleviates pain, often combined with Chai Hu (Bupleurum), Dang Gui, Bai Shao, etc., to treat blood deficiency and liver stagnation, hypochondriac pain. It can also treat spleen deficiency with liver excess, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dysentery, and abdominal pain due to yin blood deficiency causing limb spasms and pain.3. Liver yang rising, headache, dizziness: This product nourishes blood, astringes yin, and pacifies liver yang.4. This product astringes yin and has the function of stopping sweating. If there is an external wind-cold invasion with sweating and aversion to wind, it can astringe yin and harmonize the nutritive and defensive qi, used with Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig) to harmonize the nutritive and defensive qi; for yin deficiency night sweats, it should be used with Long Gu (Dragon Bone), Mu Li (Oyster Shell), etc., to achieve the effect of astringing yin and stopping sweating.5. Western medicine diagnoses anemia due to liver blood deficiency, functional uterine bleeding, chronic nephritis, hypertension, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, central retinal inflammation, menopausal syndrome due to blood deficiency and liver excess, pulmonary tuberculosis, renal tuberculosis, etc., due to insufficient yin blood.
Clinical Applications
1. Used for irregular menstruation and excessive bleeding: Bai Shao is often combined with Dang Gui, Chuan Xiong (Ligusticum), and Shu Di to nourish blood and regulate menstruation, as in the Si Wu Decoction from the Taiping Huimin Heji Ju Fang. For blood collapse, stopping bleeding is urgent, as in the Jiyin Gangmu, Bai Shao combined with He Ye (Lotus Leaf) to astringe yin, clear the liver, cool the blood, and stop bleeding. Bai Shao combined with Bai Ye (White Leaf) serves to astringe the liver, cool the blood, and stop bleeding.
2. Used for external wind-cold, deficiency of the exterior with spontaneous sweating and aversion to wind: Bai Shao benefits yin and harmonizes the nutritive qi, combined with Gui Zhi to release the muscle and induce sweating, achieving the function of harmonizing the nutritive and defensive qi, as in the Gui Zhi Decoction from the Shang Han Lun.
3. Used for pain in the flanks and abdomen, and limb spasms due to liver qi stagnation and blood deficiency: Bai Shao has the functions of softening the liver, alleviating spasms, and stopping pain. For flank pain, it is often combined with Dang Gui, Bai Zhu (Atractylodes), Chai Hu, etc., as in the Xiao Yao San; for postpartum abdominal pain, fullness, and inability to lie down, it is combined with Zhi Shi (Bitter Orange), as in the Zhi Shi Bai Shao San from the Jin Kui Yao Lue; for women’s dysmenorrhea, as in the Dang Gui Bai Shao San; if there is disharmony between liver and spleen, abdominal spasms and pain, and limb spasms due to blood deficiency, it is often combined with Gan Cao (Licorice) for synergistic effects, as in the Bai Shao Gan Cao Decoction from the Shang Han Lun, adding Rou Gui (Cinnamon) for cold or Huang Qin (Scutellaria) for heat. Bai Shao also treats abdominal pain and diarrhea due to liver excess and spleen deficiency, as in the Dan Xi Xin Fa treatment for diarrhea, using Bai Shao with Bai Zhu, Chen Pi (Aged Tangerine Peel), and Fang Feng (Siler) to soften the liver and stop pain; if there is heat causing abdominal pain, it can be used with Huang Qin, as in the Huang Qin Decoction from the Shang Han Lun.
4. Used for liver yang rising, headache, and dizziness: Bai Shao nourishes yin and pacifies the liver, often combined with Sheng Di (Rehmannia), Niu Xi (Achyranthes), and Dai Zhe Shi (Hematite), as in the Jian Ling Decoction from the Yi Xue Zhong Zhong Can Xi Lu; for accumulated heat not dispersing, red and swollen eyes, or visual obstruction, it is often used with Chai Hu, Jue Ming Zi (Cassia Seed), and Qing Xiang Zi (Celosia Seed).
Related Combinations
1. Bai Shao combined with Wu Yao (Lindera): Bai Shao excels at nourishing blood and softening the liver, alleviating spasms and pain; Wu Yao is good at moving qi and stopping pain, warming the kidneys and dispelling cold. The combination enhances blood nourishment, qi movement, and cold dispelling pain. Suitable for qi and blood stagnation, fullness, and abdominal pain.
2. Bai Shao combined with Gui Jia (Tortoise Shell): Bai Shao excels at astringing yin and dispelling heat; Gui Jia is good at nourishing yin and subduing yang. The combination enhances the effects of astringing yin and subduing yang, softening the liver and calming wind. Suitable for liver and kidney deficiency, liver yang rising causing dizziness and headache, and heat diseases injuring fluids, with internal wind causing spasms.
3. Bai Shao combined with Shi Jue Ming (Oyster Shell): Both herbs enter the liver meridian and have the effect of pacifying the liver and subduing yang, used for liver and kidney yin deficiency, and liver yang rising causing headache and dizziness. Shi Jue Ming is salty and cold, entering the liver meridian, and can clear liver fire, nourish liver yin, and is a key herb for treating eye diseases, suitable for both deficiency and excess conditions. Bai Shao is sweet and nourishing, with the effects of nourishing blood, astringing yin, regulating menstruation, and stopping pain, suitable for treating liver and spleen blood deficiency, pale complexion, dizziness, palpitations, and irregular menstruation.
4. Bai Shao combined with Mu Xiang (Costus): Bai Shao excels at harmonizing blood and stopping pain; Mu Xiang is good at moving qi and stopping pain. The combination enhances the effects of moving qi and harmonizing blood, alleviating spasms and pain. Suitable for abdominal pain and diarrhea due to qi and blood stagnation.
5. Bai Shao combined with Fu Zi (Aconite): Bai Shao excels at nourishing blood and softening the liver, alleviating spasms and pain; Fu Zi is good at warming the kidneys and strengthening yang, dispelling cold and stopping pain. The combination enhances the effects of nourishing blood, softening the liver, and dispelling cold pain. Suitable for evil lurking in the lower jiao, diarrhea with abdominal pain like dysentery, excessive sweating with cold limbs, red tongue with white coating, and wiry rapid pulse.
6. Bai Shao combined with Sheng Jiang (Ginger): Bai Shao excels at nourishing blood and softening the liver; Sheng Jiang is good at warming the stomach and dispelling cold. The combination enhances the effects of nourishing blood and dispelling cold. Suitable for blood deficiency with cold, abdominal pain during menstruation, or postpartum abdominal pain.
7. Bai Shao combined with Gou Teng (Uncaria): Bai Shao excels at nourishing blood and softening the liver; Gou Teng is good at nourishing yin and subduing yang. The combination enhances the effects of nourishing yin and subduing yang, nourishing blood and softening the liver. Suitable for headache, dizziness, irritability, insomnia, and vivid dreams due to blood deficiency and liver yang excess.
8. Bai Shao combined with Goji Berries (Lycium): Bai Shao excels at nourishing blood and softening the liver, alleviating spasms and pain; Goji Berries are good at nourishing the kidneys, benefiting essence, and brightening the eyes. The combination enhances the effects of nourishing blood, softening the liver, and benefiting the kidneys. Suitable for dizziness, dry mouth, palpitations, and insomnia.
Distinguishing Medicinal Uses
1. Sheng Bai Shao (Raw White Peony), Chao Bai Shao (Fried White Peony), Jiu Bai Shao (Wine White Peony), Cu Bai Shao (Vinegar White Peony), Tu Chao Bai Shao (Earth Fried White Peony): There are many ancient processing methods for Bai Shao, but the main processed products still in use today are Sheng Bai Shao, Chao Bai Shao, Jiu Bai Shao, Cu Bai Shao, and Tu Chao Bai Shao.
(1) Sheng Bai Shao excels at nourishing blood, astringing yin, and pacifying liver yang, used for blood deficiency, irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, excessive bleeding, headache, dizziness, tinnitus, irritability, and spontaneous sweating or night sweats.
(2) Chao Bai Shao has a slightly milder nature, mainly nourishing blood and astringing yin, used for abdominal pain and diarrhea due to liver excess and spleen deficiency, or prolonged diarrhea with abdominal pain that prefers pressure and warmth.
(3) Jiu Bai Shao has a reduced cold nature, good at harmonizing the middle and alleviating spasms, used for flank pain, abdominal pain, and postpartum abdominal pain. Cu Bai Shao mainly enters the liver and excels at astringing, with functions of astringing blood, stopping bleeding, and soothing the liver to relieve stagnation.
(4) Tu Chao Bai Shao can borrow the earth’s energy to enter the spleen, enhancing the effects of softening the liver and spleen, and stopping diarrhea, mainly treating liver yang and spleen deficiency diarrhea, or prolonged diarrhea with a preference for warmth and pressure.
2. Chi Shao (Red Peony) and Bai Shao: Chi Shao and Bai Shao are two types of the same category, historically used interchangeably, but differentiated in the Song and Yuan dynasties. Although both are slightly cold in nature, their effects are quite different. Chi Shao is bitter and enters the liver meridian, being a cooling and dispersing herb, effective in clearing heat, cooling blood, and resolving stasis, especially suitable for blood heat and blood stasis. It is good for liver fire attacking the eyes, red and swollen eyes, liver qi stagnation causing flank pain, and heat entering the nutritive blood causing rashes, bleeding, and menstrual disorders. Bai Shao is sour and bitter, entering the liver and spleen meridians, being a nourishing and astringing herb, effective in nourishing blood, regulating menstruation, astringing yin, stopping sweating, and alleviating pain, especially suitable for liver excess due to yin blood deficiency, treating dizziness, flank pain, and irregular menstruation.
3. Dang Gui (Angelica) and Bai Shao: Both can nourish blood, regulate menstruation, and alleviate pain, treating irregular menstruation and blood deficiency. However, Dang Gui is warm in nature, suitable for blood deficiency with cold; Bai Shao is slightly cold, suitable for blood deficiency with heat. Dang Gui nourishes blood, invigorates blood, moves qi, and alleviates pain, used for blood deficiency, blood stasis, and qi stagnation with cold; Bai Shao astringes yin, pacifies the liver, and alleviates pain, best used for liver excess due to yin blood deficiency, abdominal spasms, and flank pain. Additionally, Dang Gui treats blood deficiency causing numbness, swelling, and abscesses; it can also moisten the intestines and relieve constipation. Bai Shao also treats dizziness due to liver excess and can stop sweating, treating spontaneous sweating and night sweats.
4. Shi Jue Ming and Bai Shao: Both herbs enter the liver meridian and have the effect of pacifying the liver and subduing yang, used for headache and dizziness due to liver and kidney yin deficiency, and liver yang rising. Shi Jue Ming is salty and cold, entering the liver meridian, and can clear liver fire, nourish liver yin, and is a key herb for treating eye diseases, suitable for both deficiency and excess conditions. Bai Shao is sweet and nourishing, with the effects of nourishing blood, astringing yin, regulating menstruation, and stopping pain, suitable for treating liver and spleen blood deficiency, pale complexion, dizziness, palpitations, and irregular menstruation. Bai Shao also has the function of nourishing liver blood, astringing liver yin, and alleviating pain, treating liver excess and spleen deficiency, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and dysentery.
Related Discussions
Bai Shao and Chuan Xiong Fish Head:1. Function: Moves qi, nourishes blood, calms pain, nourishes yin, strengthens the body, suitable for patients with intercostal neuralgia.2. Ingredients: Bai Shao 10g, Chuan Xiong 10g, Gan Cao 6g, carp head 1 (500g), cooking wine 20g, ginger 10g, scallion 15g, salt 4g.3. Method: Soak Bai Shao, Gan Cao, and Chuan Xiong, slice them; clean the carp head, remove the gills, slice the ginger, and cut the scallion. Rub the fish head with cooking wine and salt, place it in a stewing pot, add Bai Shao, Gan Cao, and Chuan Xiong, pour in 800ml of water, and add ginger and scallion. Place the stewing pot on high heat until boiling, then simmer on low heat for 20 minutes.4. Usage: Once daily. Each time consume 50-100g of fish head.
Dosage
Internal use: Decoction, 5-12g; or in pills or powders. Large doses can be 15-30g.
For pacifying liver yang, use raw; for nourishing and softening the liver, use fried.
Adverse Reactions
1. Reported occasional discomfort in the upper abdomen and abdominal pain.
2. Allergic reactions:Fever, scarlet fever-like or measles-like drug rash.
Precautions
1. Bai Shao is a cold herb; for external wind-cold, internal injury from cold, spleen and stomach deficiency with cold, kidney yang deficiency, etc., it is not suitable for large doses of single herb. Women with irregular menstruation due to deficiency and cold should not use it in large amounts; those with qi deficiency and spontaneous sweating, or yang deficiency with sweating should avoid it.
2. Bai Shao’s sour and cold nature astringes; it should not be used in cases of yang stagnation in the upper jiao or rashes.
3. Bai Shao has a central nervous system inhibitory effect; it should not be used in comatose patients; infants and the elderly should not use it in large amounts for long periods.
4. Pregnant women should not use it in large amounts after childbirth.
Contraindications
1. Contraindications for herbal combinations: Avoid Mangxiao (Glauber’s Salt), Shi Hu (Dendrobium), avoid Bie Jia (Soft-shelled Turtle), Xiao Ji (Cirsium), and counteract with Li Lu (Veratrum).
2. Contraindications for combinations with Western medicine:
(1) Not suitable to combine with antihypertensive drugs to prevent orthostatic hypotension.
(2) Not suitable to combine with cardiac glycosides, as it may increase toxicity.
(3) Combining with heparin, warfarin, aspirin, etc., may increase bleeding tendency.
(4) Theophylline may weaken Bai Shao’s inhibitory effect on intestinal contractions, not suitable for concurrent use.
Herbal usage varies by individual; please follow medical advice before use.
Thank you for your reading
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Phone: 0771-5509566
Address: No. 11 Jinkai Road, Nanning Economic Development Zone, Guangxi